Tactical Value? [was: VX-8R Symbol/SSID (Was Re:[aprssig] YaesuVX-8R)]

[Rick Green]

On Thu, 22 May 2008, Robert Bruninga wrote:

> I donno.  We have only had 1.1 major manufacturers fully enorse
> and implement APRS in 10 years.  We rewarded that MFR with a
> symbol.

  Grrr.  You're way off base on this one, Bob.  One 'rewards' a commercial 
concern with sales, not by pandering to their ego by plastering their logo 
on what is *meant* to be a tactical display.

The TOCALL 'destination' field has been designated as the place to 
describe the specific implementation that formatted this packet.  That is 
the place where the manufacturer, as well as model and version, are to be 
encoded.
   The Icon or symbol displayed on the screen must be one which has 
tactical value, conveying in an instant the functional role of this 
station in the incident at hand.  Details which convey specific 
capabilities, such as SMS capability, voice monitoring freq/mode, 
telemetry available, etc. can be buried a level deeper just a mouse-click 
away.  A 'Brand name' tells me absolutely nothing about whether this 
station is the command post, a mobile observer, a supply depot, shelter, 
etc., and that's the information that's needed on a situational awareness 
display at first glance.

-- 
Rick Green, N8BJX

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
                                   -Benjamin Franklin